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H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:38 PM Mar 2021

Powderfingered




It infuriates him daily. Each and every day since the November election, Donald Trump has fought the acceptance that Joe Biden beat him in a one-on-one contest. All of his adult life, Donald had kind of wanted to be president. He had flirted with the idea coyly in numerous television interviews over the years, and even sent a message to George H. W. Bush, letting him know that he would be willing to serve as Bush's vice president. But Bush ignored his generous offer.

Despite his attempts at tough talk about our country being stolen from and laughed at, and in need of a strong leader, Donald had no real concept of what policies he favored beyond any to enhance his financial status. Indeed, that was the only reason he donated to political campaigns. In fact, Donald Trump had a positive opinion of every U.S. president, from Gerald Ford to George W. Bush. Then things changed.

Trump had started listening to Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention before quickly changing the channel. "Boring," he said out loud, confident that Obama had no future in politics. "What a light weight. Empty suit."

Donald the suppressed any thought of Obama until 2008's primaries. He was certain that Obama had absolutely no chance of winning, and hoped to see him crushed and humiliated. It upset Donald greatly when it became apparent that this Obama guy would be the nominee. But, he thought, America will elect John McCain, especially with that vice presidential choice. Trump never felt comfortable around McCain, sure that John was thinking about bone spurs. But Palin was someone he could talk to, maybe even hit upon.

The very concept of "President Obama" was unsettling for Donald. But he either couldn't, or wouldn't, put a finger on exactly what it was. He knew he wasn't prejudiced, for he had a black friend, Don King. He never really liked King, but the boxing promoter had made his casino real money at a much-needed time. Plus King treated him with great respect. But he remembered what his father had told him over the years about black people. No doubt this Obama would be in way over his head, fail miserably, and the public would turn against him, rendering him a one-term loser.

The guy wasn't even born in America. It didn't matter to Donald if this was accurate or not -- for whatever people could be convinced was real becomes true. Plus the guy is a Muslim, he thought, and his being elected had resulted in racial tensions. At some level, Trump thought of Obama as a challenge to his position as the Most Important & Loved Man in America. Time to attack: show us the birth certificate!

Then came April 300, 2011:


President Obama had humiliated him in a public way. Donald was furious. He was determined to become president, in order to destroy everything Obama accomplished in his presidency. While it is true that during his time in the White House, Trump did all he could to advance his family's fortunes, and appointed federal judges he was convinced would thus forever be in his debt, his core theme was to compete with Barack Obama. He wanted to make a record that he believed would prove he was smarter, better educated, more attractive, and far more popular than Obama. And far more loved, respected, and feared around the globe.

In the presidential election of November of 2020, Joe Biden beat Trump. Publicly. It is essential to understand exactly what that meant to Donald. It was as if Batman sent Robin to do battle with the Joker, and Robin won. We have witnessed Trump's refusal to accept that. January 6 was not the end of it.

The on-going investigations show that the planned coup on January 6 was more organized and entrenched within not only those groups that support Trump, but also with the involvement of people connected to the Trump administration. They believed that the response of the police would be different than what it was. Charles Flynn had different plans for the eventual introduction of the National Guard, which explains why there was a more than three hour delay in their deployment.

Everything goes in cycles. Some, like years, are longer than others, such as weeks. Donald Trump did not initiate the cycle of hate we have been subjected to as of late, but he surely rode the wave. He took advantage of it, and he added to it. And that wave of hatred and violence has not disappeared -- it is simply recharging its batteries. The degree to which Trump will play a role remains an open question, perhaps, but one thing is certain: he hates Biden with the same passion as he has hated Obama. I'd suggest he will continue his war on the United States.

Speaking of cycles ..... as I find myself in the part of the human life cycle known as "old age," I try not to waste time. I tell my daughters that I figure I have less than seventy years left on this turn. So even when temporarily sidelined, as I've been the past ten days, I do think about things. But for the unacceptable length of my essays on this forum, I would speculate -- likely with a high degree of accuracy -- what we will experience this spring and summer as it relates to the alt-right.

Frequently, I point to Ireland's "The Troubles" as the direction we should not head in. But I think I might focus more on the situation in Mississippi in the eight months before the Civil War to illustrate some important current dynamics. And discuss the 22-year old from Neil Young's song, who sees black as his face splashed in the sky.

Peace,
H2O Man
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Powderfingered (Original Post) H2O Man Mar 2021 OP
K&R burrowowl Mar 2021 #1
Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2021 #11
Interesting Hekate Mar 2021 #2
I second this request, please! n/t ms liberty Mar 2021 #4
Malcolm Nance H2O Man Mar 2021 #12
Unfortunately, Donald did undo a lot of Obama's progress MagickMuffin Mar 2021 #3
Thanks! H2O Man Mar 2021 #13
K&R. Excellent essay, sir. n/t ms liberty Mar 2021 #5
Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2021 #14
K&R! Elessar Zappa Mar 2021 #6
Thank you! H2O Man Mar 2021 #15
Kick dalton99a Mar 2021 #7
Do tell us more Saoirse9 Mar 2021 #8
Mississippi H2O Man Mar 2021 #16
Will definitely keep reading Saoirse9 Mar 2021 #20
We the People have different plans for the Gen. Flynns Kid Berwyn Mar 2021 #9
Justice is coming..... H2O Man Mar 2021 #17
Justice. Kid Berwyn Mar 2021 #19
We've been battling for over 40 years to stay out of the 1850s. Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2021 #10
Exactly! H2O Man Mar 2021 #18
McConnell believes it's the natural order of things. Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2021 #21
Never saw it coming Whosah Mar 2021 #22

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
2. Interesting
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 02:31 AM
Mar 2021
Frequently, I point to Ireland's "The Troubles" as the direction we should not head in. But I think I might focus more on the situation in Mississippi in the eight months before the Civil War to illustrate some important current dynamics. And discuss the 22-year old from Neil Young's song, who sees black as his face splashed in the sky.

Fill us in on the next pass. I don’t know enough about the precursors to either The Troubles or the Civil War, only that the results and lingering sequelae are dreadful.

Malcolm Nance has said similar things, using different analogies.

Peace and health to you,
Hekate

H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
12. Malcolm Nance
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 12:30 PM
Mar 2021

is one of the people who I always pay attention to. In my opinion, he is the single best source on "how" things will unfold. Along with that, I place top value on Dr. Bandy Lee for providing the "why" it will, as she focuses on the personality traits of the individuals involved. Indeed, that was my primary goal in the above essay -- to remind people of a core motivator of Donald Trump in the last decade ..... his hatred of a man he knows is superior to him. The man that he has been in competition with. And why he is so upset about losing to a man he viewed as President Obama's sidekick.

I like to make outlines in my mind, edit as needed, and then write things down. I think that I've got to do about three or four more essays in this series, as they are all closely related -- at least in my mind! But I'll say this: as conflicts increase, the participants often (though not always) become younger. For it is young men -- even young teens -- who are most likely to follow the orders of their gym coach/ sergeant. When I served on the local school board, I attempted -- with limited success -- to explain teens' development to coachs who mistook themselves for college coaches.

These are, of course, approximate. Up to age 16, most kids, be they male or female, get their "good feelings" about how they've performed in a sport from their coach, team, parents, and audience.It is largely external. Between 17 and 18, it starts to shift to internal -- they know if they've done good or poorly, though the external responses have significant influence. Around 20, those feelings tend to be primarily internal. Hence, if a college coach yells at a 20-year old player, he/she will process it much differently than if a jackass coach yells at a 16 year old in front of a crowd.

Without saying too much more than this, I'll note that the "soldiers" from Mississippi were in large part teenagers. Dumb kids who believed that it might be rather fun to be on one team, shooting at another team across a field from them. And then eventually return home and be recognized as a hero in their community. Their coach knew what needed to be done, and they would follow his orders as good patriots defending their own.But that didn't happen, of course. They became participants in the hell of war, victims of many factors including the geography of their state. They "never stopped to wonder why" before their faces splashed in the sky. But it was too late for the "audience" to reconsider the infamous state vote on if they should join the cause.

MagickMuffin

(15,886 posts)
3. Unfortunately, Donald did undo a lot of Obama's progress
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 02:41 AM
Mar 2021


mostly through executive orders.

Such a petty petty little man.

I'm so thankful and grateful that Biden/Harris won and President Biden has been able to reverse all Donald's damage to Obama's legacy while forging his own.

Thank you for your well thought out essay. You express my thoughts about this as well




H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
13. Thanks!
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 12:34 PM
Mar 2021

Yes, he did. In fact, to such an extent that one can not deny that this was of utmost importance to him, in the struggle between President Obama and himself that was playing out in his mind. A petty, petty mere shell of a man. And our society was the real victim of this petty power play.

H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
14. Thank you!
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 12:38 PM
Mar 2021

Now, I could be wrong -- I often am -- but I think we have about three weeks to study the current and on-going dynamics, and plan how the grass roots can best coordinate with our state and federal officials, before things heat up to the boiling point again.

Saoirse9

(3,662 posts)
8. Do tell us more
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 09:10 AM
Mar 2021

About Mississippi and Ireland during the troubles.

I always enjoy your take on history and how it correlates to what is happening today.

H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
16. Mississippi
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 03:35 PM
Mar 2021

was the wealthiest state in the nation as the Civil War approached. Yet that wealth was not anywhere near equally distributed. Indeed, it was primarily located near the rivers and railroads, and depended upon both for access to the other regions of the country. And this is just for starters ......and will set the tone for more to come.

The Irish-Catholic immigrants of the north won the war. But you know that.

I hope that this does not fully answer your questions, so that you will continue reading my OPs!

Kid Berwyn

(14,642 posts)
9. We the People have different plans for the Gen. Flynns
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 09:13 AM
Mar 2021

The active duty Flynn and the pardoned felon Flynn and the orange fuehrer, mistakenly, believed their racist fascist ilk would win the day Jan. 6.

They and their confederates — in government, mass media and the estates of many of the wealthiest — are still trying. But they have been exposed for what they are. Traitors.

And justice is coming for them.

PS: Most importantly — Get well soon. People learn new ways of seeing things, thanks to you.

H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
17. Justice is coming.....
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 03:56 PM
Mar 2021

I've been impressed with how much information is publicly available that allows us to piece together how entrenched the January 6 event was. On that day, I remember watching it unfold, and thinking, "This is exactly what Bandy has been warning us would happen." And it is not just Trump -- as you well know. Coups and attempted coups are frequently attempted by those in the military who do not have the highest ranks, such as the Flynn brothers.

They read the situation wrong. For a variety of reasons, including a curious belief that Joe Biden was "weak" and incapable of stopping them -- forgetting that Biden was yet to take office -- they were comfortable in going for it. They did not anticipate the public's reaction. And they did not recognize that Trump is the very definition of a coward, who backed down when they thought he would step up.

I'm old and many decades past my fighting days. One thing I learned in "street fighting" is that there are some individuals that one doesn't simply beat up until they say, "I quit." These are the snakes that will plot to again attack you from behind, when you least expect it, and frequently with some sort of weapon. Now, I only encountered two people like that ..... but in both cases, I knew to stomp them until I was confident they would seek to avoid me for the rest of their lives. I wanted them to be mumbling to themselves, and looking out behind them, afraid to see me, when they ventured out from under their rocks.

That is the justice we need .... non-violently, of course!




Kid Berwyn

(14,642 posts)
19. Justice.
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 04:03 PM
Mar 2021
Murder Most Foul

Song by Bob Dylan

Twas a dark day in Dallas, November '63
A day that will live on in infamy
President Kennedy was a-ridin' high
Good day to be livin' and a good day to die
Being led to the slaughter like a sacrificial lamb
He said, "Wait a minute, boys, you know who I am?"
"Of course we do, we know who you are"
Then they blew off his head while he was still in the car
Shot down like a dog in broad daylight
Was a matter of timing and the timing was right
You got unpaid debts, we've come to collect
We're gonna kill you with hatred, without any respect
We'll mock you and shock you and we'll put it in your face
We've already got someone here to take your place
The day they blew out the brains of the king
Thousands were watchin', no one saw a thing
It happened so quickly, so quick, by surprise
Right there in front of everyone's eyes
Greatest magic trick ever under the sun
Perfectly executed, skillfully done
Wolfman, oh Wolfman, oh Wolfman, howl
Rub-a-dub-dub, it's a murder most foul
Hush, little children, you'll understand
The Beatles are comin', they're gonna hold your hand
Slide down the banister, go get your coat
Ferry 'cross the Mersey and go for the throat
There's three bums comin' all dressed in rags
Pick up the pieces and lower the flags
I'm goin' to Woodstock, it's the Aquarian Age
Then I'll go to Altamont and sit near the stage
Put your head out the window, let the good times roll
There's a party goin' on behind the Grassy Knoll
Stack up the bricks, pour the cement
Don't say Dallas don't love you, Mr. President
Put your foot in the tank and step on the gas
Try to make it to the triple underpass
Blackface singer, whiteface clown
Better not show your faces after the sun goes down
I'm in the red-light district, like a cop on the beat
Livin' in a nightmare on Elm Street
When you're down in Deep Ellum, put your money in your shoe
Don't ask what your country can do for you
Cash on the barrelhead, money to burn
Dealey Plaza, make a left-hand turn
I'm goin' down to the crossroads, gonna flag a ride
The place where faith, hope, and charity died
Shoot him while he runs, boy, shoot him while you can
See if you can shoot the invisible man
Goodbye, Charlie, goodbye, Uncle Sam
Frankly, Miss Scarlet, I don't give a damn
What is the truth, and where did it go?
Ask Oswald and Ruby, they oughta know
"Shut your mouth, " said the wise old owl
Business is business, and it's a murder most foul
Tommy, can you hear me? I'm the Acid Queen
I'm riding in a long, black Lincoln limousine
Riding in the backseat next to my wife
Heading straight on in to the afterlife
I'm leaning to the left, I got my head in her lap
Hold on, I've been led into some kind of a trap
Where we ask no quarter, and no quarter do we give
We're right down the street from the street where you live
They mutilated his body and they took out his brain
What more could they do? They piled on the pain
But his soul's not there where it was supposed to be at
For the last fifty years they've been searchin' for that
Freedom, oh freedom, freedom over me
I hate to tell you, mister, but only dead men are free
Send me some lovin', tell me no lies
Throw the gun in the gutter and walk on by
Wake up, little Suzie, let's go for a drive
Cross the Trinity River, let's keep hope alive
Turn the radio on, don't touch the dials
Parkland hospital, only six more miles
You got me dizzy, Miss Lizzy, you filled me with lead
That magic bullet of yours has gone to my head
I'm just a patsy like Patsy Cline
Never shot anyone from in front or behind
Got blood in my eye, got blood in my ear
I'm never gonna make it to the new frontier
Zapruder's film, I've seen that before
Seen it thirty-three times, maybe more
It's vile and deceitful, it's cruel and it's mean
Ugliest thing that you ever have seen
They killed him once and they killed him twice
Killed him like a human sacrifice
The day that they killed him, someone said to me, "Son
The age of the Antichrist has just only begun"
Air Force One comin' in through the gate
Johnson sworn in at 2:38
Let me know when you decide to throw in the towel
It is what it is, and it's murder most foul
What's new, pussycat? What'd I say?
I said the soul of a nation been torn away
And it's beginning to go into a slow decay
And that it's thirty-six hours past Judgment Day
Wolfman Jack, he's speaking in tongues
He's going on and on at the top of his lungs
Play me a song, Mr. Wolfman Jack
Play it for me in my long Cadillac
Play me that, "Only The Good Die Young"
Take me to the place Tom Dooley was hung
Play, "St. James Infirmary" and, "The Port of King James"
If you want to remember, you better write down the names
Play Etta James, too, play "I'd Rather Go Blind"
Play it for the man with the telepathic mind
Play John Lee Hooker, play "Scratch My Back"
Play it for that strip club owner named Jack
Guitar Slim going down slow
Play it for me and for Marilyn Monroe
Play, "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
Play it for the First Lady, she ain't feeling any good
Play Don Henley, play Glenn Frey
Take it to the limit and let it go by
Play it for Carl Wilson, too
Looking far, far away down Gower Avenue
Play, "Tragedy" play, "Twilight Time"
Take me back to Tulsa to the scene of the crime
Play another one and, "Another One Bites the Dust"
Play, "The Old Rugged Cross" and, "In God We Trust"
Ride the pink horse down that long, lonesome road
Stand there and wait for his head to explode
Play, "Mystery Train" for Mr. Mystery
The man who fell down dead like a rootless tree
Play it for the Reverend, play it for the Pastor
Play it for the dog that got no master
Play Oscar Peterson, play Stan Getz
Play, "Blue Sky", play Dickey Betts
Play Hot Pepper, Thelonious Monk
Charlie Parker and all that junk
All that junk and, "All That Jazz"
Play something for the Birdman of Alcatraz
Play Buster Keaton, play Harold Lloyd
Play Bugsy Siegel, play Pretty Boy Floyd
Play the numbers , play the odds
Play, "Cry Me A River" for the Lord of the gods
Play Number Nine, play Number Six
Play it for Lindsey and Stevie Nicks
Play Nat King Cole, play, "Nature Boy"
Play, "Down In The Boondocks" for Terry Malloy
Play, "It Happened One Night" and, "One Night of Sin"
There's twelve million souls that are listening in
Play, "Merchant to Venice" play, "Merchants of Death"
Play, "Stella by Starlight" for Lady Macbeth
Don't worry, Mr. President, help's on the way
Your brothers are coming, there'll be hell to pay
Brothers? What brothers? What's this about hell?
Tell them, "We're waiting, keep coming"
We'll get them as well
Love Field is where his plane touched down
But it never did get back up off the ground
Was a hard act to follow, second to none
They killed him on the altar of the rising sun
Play, "Misty" for me and, "That Old Devil Moon"
Play, "Anything Goes" and, "Memphis in June"
Play, "Lonely At the Top" and, "Lonely Are the Brave"
Play it for Houdini spinning around his grave
Play Jelly Roll Morton, play, "Lucille"
Play, "Deep In a Dream" and play "Driving Wheel"
Play, "Moonlight Sonata" in F-sharp
And, "A Key To The Highway" for the king of the harp
Play, "Marching Through Georgia" and, "Dumbaroton's Drums"
Play, "Darkness" and death will come when it comes
Play, "Love Me Or Leave Me" by the great Bud Powell
Play, "The Blood-stained Banner" play, "Murder Most Foul"

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,021 posts)
10. We've been battling for over 40 years to stay out of the 1850s.
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 09:23 AM
Mar 2021

The sociopathic billionaires, including Putin, want a world in which wealth rules all. This gang has a better propaganda machine than ever existed before, when they made runs at control preceding the Great Depression and the Civil War.

H2O Man

(73,308 posts)
18. Exactly!
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 04:01 PM
Mar 2021

In many areas upon earth -- including the United States -- we are witnessing attempts to create high-tech feudalism.There are people who are convinced that they are royalty. Putin is a great example. The Trump family believes that they are, too.



(Note: I forget their names, but have enjoyed seeing the couple from England reject the "royal" nonsense. They seem like decent people to me, and I like that they exposed what idiots make up the royal family.)

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,021 posts)
21. McConnell believes it's the natural order of things.
Tue Mar 9, 2021, 06:23 PM
Mar 2021

Moscow Mitch wants only enough government necessary to protect the lords of capital. On his way out, he wants to rig it so that only like-minded people are eligible to replace him.

Whosah

(1 post)
22. Never saw it coming
Thu Mar 18, 2021, 10:07 PM
Mar 2021

"So the powers that be left me here to do the thinkin' . . . Never stopped to wonder why. Then I saw black, And my face splashed in the sky.Shelter me from the powder and the finger - never saw it comin" We don't want to accept there are those who are not of the same cloth of morals or ethics - we must realize - they are here - be prepared

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